Deliveries rise and takeaways stabilise as restaurants grow at-home sales by 6% in September: Britain’s leading restaurant groups achieved like-for-like sales growth of 6.0% in delivery and takeaway sales in September, according to CGA by NIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker. The figure represents a slight strengthening from growth of 4.6% in August. Year-on-year trading has been comfortably above the rate of inflation in every month of 2024 so far. The tracker shows restaurants’ at-home sales continue to be powered by deliveries, which finished 8.5% ahead of the levels of September 2023. They accounted for nearly 12% of restaurants’ total sales last month. Groups were also buoyed by 0.7% growth in takeaway and click-and-collect sales – a second successive month of fractional growth after a long-term decline in trading as consumers switched to the convenience of deliveries. However, deliveries now account for 57% of restaurants’ total at-home orders, with takeaways and click-and-collect sharing 43%. Karl Chessell, CGA by NIQ’s director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA, said: “Growth in deliveries and takeaways has outstripped in-venue sales for most of 2024, and September’s poor weather meant many consumers continued to order in their restaurant meals rather than eat out. The modest revival of pick-up orders is an encouraging sign of stability, though growth here is being achieved by price rises rather than extra volumes. With spending still tight, real-terms growth in either channel will be hard earned for some time to come.”

Ikea launches first standalone restaurant: Ikea has launched its first standalone restaurant on the UK high street. Located on King Street in Hammersmith, the Ikea Restaurant is a dedicated dining space offering the brand’s Swedish cuisine, including its signature meatballs. Situated right next to the newly renovated Ikea Hammersmith City Store, the restaurant brings the furniture store’s menu items directly to customers on the high street, marking a first for the retailer. The new restaurant space, previously occupied by Wasabi, is designed to seat 75 diners and features a menu of classic Swedish dishes alongside kid-friendly options, reports 365 Retail. Matthew Gould, market manager at Ikea London City, said: “We know how much our customers love the Ikea restaurant and we’re excited to celebrate the opening of our very first high street restaurant. Fans of our delicious dishes can recharge during their shopping trip with our famous Swedish meatballs, pop in for a traditional Swedish ‘fika’ break for coffee and a sweet treat, or find an affordable meal for the kids right on the high street.”